Rod guide



'w. J. HEARD Nov. 27, 1945.

ROD GUIDE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 :E'IE- I INVENTOR BY Z ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES t TENT OFFICE ROD GUIDE Willis J. Heard, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application February 3, 1944, Serial No. 520,994

5 Claims. (Cl. 3084) This invention relates to oil field equipment and it has particular reference to rod guides employed in oil wells for aiding in centering the pump rods and minimizing the contracts of the latter with the inner walls of the casing or tubing and its principal object resides in the provision of a rod guide assembly capable of being positioned at any desirable point in the well and frictionally retained therein.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rod guide assembly possessing characteristics especially adapting the same to use in wells having bores which are not vertica1 but which vary, in some degrees, causing crooks and bends which necessitate proper alignment of the pump rods to prevent their contact with the walls of the casing and damaging the same,

Still another object of the invention is manifest in the provision of a rod guide assembly having an arrangement of blades thereon capable of engaging the inner walls of the casing and supporting the, assembly therein at any desired location and yet capable of being adjustable for the purpose of installing or removing the assembly the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is perspective illustration of the invention showing the adjustable blades and tensioned collars at each end of the device for lending adjustability and tension to the said blades.

Figure 2 illustrates the invention inivertical cross-section, taken on lines 2-2 of Figure 3, and shows one stationary blade, as well as the tensioned collars.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the invention showing two adjustable blades and one stationary blade radially extending from the body, and

, Figure 4 illustrates, in perspective, the body member of the invention, showing the integral stationary blade and the arrangement of integral bosses by which the movable or adjustable blades are secured to the body member.

The invention comprises a body member I, which is substantially cylindrical in form, and has a bore 2 in which a bushing 3 is arranged to provide a suitable bearing for a pump rod (not shown). It is desirable to provide a rod section suitably finished, such as a polished rod, for the purpose of arrangement through the invention, which can be of such length as to be slightly longer than the normal pump stroke and be provided with the conventional box and pin on each end for coupling into the rod string, 7

Referring particularly to Figure 4, it will become apparent that the body member I is formed with a blade 4 formed integral therewith and arranged longitudinally of the bore 2 and extends some distance above and below the body I. The outer edge a of the blade 4, which is in a perpendicular plane, has its upper and lower ends 'b and c inclined inwardly toward the body I, the

greater detail. The paired bosses 5 and 6, it will be observed, are oppositely formed in that their inclined surfaces d and e are oppositely arranged although each pair have identical apertures 9 through which the bolts l0 are inserted for securing the movable blades 1 and B to the body member I.

In Figure 1 the invention is shown in perspective and the movable blades 1' and 8 are illustrated in position in the bosses 5 and 6. The blades 1 and 8 are oppositely arranged, although identicall formed, each being provided with inner edges shaped with recesses H and I2 and at one end of each the surface j is inclined in the same direction, as shown in Figure 4. The blades 1 and 8 then are oppositely arranged so that the inclined surfaces f are opposite, as shown in Figure 1.

Each of the movable blades 1 and 8 are provided, intermediate their ends, with transversely arranged slots I3 through which the bolts it are inserted for adjustably retaining the blades 1 and 8 upon the body member I in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

The bosses 5 and B are of such width as to provide relatively deep spaces therebetween and capable of accommodating cam blades I4 and I5 slidably arranged therein behind each of the blades 1 and 8. Each of the cam blades l4 and [5 are also identically formed with their inner edges straight and their outer edges shaped to provide projections Is and I! having inc in d surfaces 9 conforming to and engageable with the inclined surfaces of the blades 1 and 8, the projecting portions I6 and I1 extending into the recesses H and I2 with a sufficient clearance to permit free movement therein.

Therefore, in Figure l, the cam blade I4 is made integral at its lower end to the collar IB while the blade I5 is integral with the upper collar I9 at its upper end. At their free ends the blades I4 and I5 are slidably arranged in grooves in the collars I8 and I9, respectively, so that the latter can move thereon against the springs 26 and 2| when depressed by either the upper or lower rod joint (not shown) in installing the invention in the well or withdrawing the same therefrom.

The operation of the blades I and 8, therefore, is accomplished through pressure exerted upon either collar I8 or I9, upwardly or downwardly, to depress these members to cause the cam blades M or I5 to move upwardly or downwardly and,

through their engagement with their respective blades I or 8 and the respective inclined surfaces 1 and g, and by reason of the slots I3 in each of the blades I and 8, cause the latter, or either of them to be urged outwardl or caused to move inwardly to engage or disengage the inner walls of a well casing (not shown).

The springs 20 and 2! are arranged to bear at one end against the end of the bod member I and outwardly against the collars I8 and 19 in opposite directions and the collars I8 and H! are free to move along the stationary blade 4 which slidably reposes, at each end, in a groove h in each collar I8 and I9, as shown in Figure 3. Each collar I8 and I9 is limited in its movement against the springs 20 and 2| by integral stops 22 and 23 arranged near each end of the stationary blade 4, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

Thus, when the collar I8 is urged upwardly against the spring 2i the cam blade I4 is moved upwardly by reason of its integral connection with this collar and urges the blade I outwardly. Likewise the opposite blade 8 is moved outwardly when the collar I9 is depressed since the opposite cam I5 is integral with this member,

It is desirable to provide a fishing neck 24, or the like, at the top of the invention, such as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and which is integrally secured to the body I through integral depending coupling strips 25 and 26, and through an integral connection with the stationary blade 4.

The herein described invention is capable of certain changes and modifications by persons skilled in the art and such changes and modifications which may be considered as falling within the spirit and intent of the invention may also be considered as falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rod guide for oil well pumps, the combination with a string of pump rods in a casing, a body member having a. bore for operatively embracing a rod section, a plurality of blades arranged longitudinally of the said body and extending radially therefrom and adapted to engage the inner walls of the said casing, one of the said blades being integral with the said body member and others of the said blades having movable connections with the said body member, cam blades, each having operative contact with the said movable blades and tensioned means associated with the said body yieldably retaining the said cam blades in operative engagement with the said movable blades and effecting their contact with the. casing walls.

2. In a rod guide for oil well pumps, in combination with a rod string and a casing, a body member having a bore for operatively receiving a rod section, radially disposed blades extending from the said body and arranged longitudinally thereof for engaging the inner walls of the said casing, one of the said blades being integral with the said body member and the others thereof havin expansible connection with the said body, each of the said last named blades having inclined surfaces on their inner faces, a cam blade associated with each of the said expansible blades also having inclined faces engaging the said inclined inner faces of the said expansible blades and tensioned means comprising collars and springs arranged on one end of each of the said cam blades retaining the said expansible blades in engagement with the said casing walls and providing yieldability therefor in installing and removing the said rod guide.

3. In a rod guide for oil wells, in combination with a string of rod sections and a well casing, a body member having a bore therethrough for operatively receiving a rod section, a plurality of blades extending radially from the said body member and adapted to engage the inner walls of the said casing and be supported thereby one of the said blades being integral with the said body member and other of the said blades being movably connected to the said body and having inclined inner surfaces, cam blades having corresponding surfaces engageable with the inclined surfaces of the said movable blades and tenioned means associated with the said cam blades providing for the operation of the said movable blades.

4. In combination with a rod string and casing for oil wells, a rod guide having a body member adaptedto operatively receive a rod section, radially disposed blades attached longitudinally of the said body for engaging the inner walls of the said casing and supporting the assembly therein, one of the said blades being integral with the said body and others of the said blades having adjustable connections with the said body, a cam blade associated with each of the said adjustable blades and adapted to operatively engage the same for outward movement thereof and tensioned means associated with the said cam blades providing for automatic adjustment of the said adjustable blades.

5. In combination with a rod string and casing in an oil well, a rod guide having a body member adapted to operatively receive a rod section, a plurality of blades arranged longitudinally of the said body member and radially extending therefrom to engage the Walls of the said casing and support the assembly therein, one of the said blades havin an integral connection with the said body member and others thereof having adjustable connection with the said body member and having inclined portions on their inner faces, a cam blade associated with each of the said adjustable blades having corresponding inclined surfaces engageable with the said blades for effecting the adjustment thereof and. tensioned means on the said body member actuating the said cam blades.

WILLIS J. HEARD. 

